The EU continues to promote freedom of religion or belief within the United Nations and other international organisations. Josep Borrell used this opportunity to stress the importance of multilateralism too: “ action in multilateral fora is essential. This year, we celebrate the 30 th anniversary of the 1992 UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. During two years of face-to-face and virtual activities, the GERIS network members explored and deepened the “religion in society approach” to generate more attention to these complex challenges and to highlight creative solutions that are being applied worldwide at local level. With 175 participants, the GERIS network is composed of community-based actors, representatives of civil society organisations, religious-inspired actors, experts, and academics as well as journalists and media practitioners, from 55 countries. It aims to connect civil society actors from all around the world (whether faith-based or of more secular orientation) who are working on faith and social inclusion. Some other initiatives include the civil society-based Global exchange on religion in society (GERIS) which facilitates the exchange of positive examples of inter-religious and non-faith coexistence. The EU is committed to prevent inter-faith violence, and to promote interfaith dialogue. In Niger, advocacy work has contributed towards the passing of a new law on religious worship in June 2019, a major achievement.Ĭultural diversity, human rights and fundamental freedoms are intertwined – and they are all necessary ingredients for open, tolerant, and respectful societies. In Nigeria, there have been no outbreaks of violence within target communities since the project started. The project activities showed concrete impact, with incidences of violence drastically reducing in both countries, which meant more peaceful communities. Activities such as music, pantomime, or painting, helped young people to connect, psychologically address traumas due to conflicts, and understand that “learning to live together” is necessary for peace. The activities showed the power of culture and arts to bring young people together. These reached thousands of people in the three countries. In Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, an EU-funded project trained and supported more than 300 young people to create and carry out their own dialogue initiatives. The EU is behind various projects across the world, which promote cultural and religious pluralism, networking, capacity building and training programmes. Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative We will continue to provide emergency support for human rights defenders, in particular those that defend freedom of religion or belief including through our mechanism. We speak out against persecution and we include victims of religious harassment in peace-building, conflict resolution and transitional justice processes. The EU protects and promotes freedom of religion or belief in all circumstances. For example, it raised its concerns of violations in around 20 human rights dialogues with partner countries. Over the past year, the EU carried out several actions to promote and protect this right. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”

Freedom of religion example